Arrangement for height adjustment preferably for kitchen tables with base cabinets

ABSTRACT

An arrangement for height-adjustment, preferably for kitchen tables with base cabinets is designed as a platform comprising a bottom plate ( 10 ), on which is mounted a lifting arrangement ( 13 - 18 ) with a carrying surface ( 11 ) for an object positioned thereon.

The present invention relates to an arrangement for height-adjustment,preferably for base cabinets located on a floor, and where the upperside of the cabinets are furnished with a table top, particularlykitchen tables with base cabinets. This particularly relates to kitchenelements where a standard size of a base cabinet is: depth 50-60 cm andheight 60-70 cm having varying widths from 30 cm to 120 cm, with leapsof 10 cm, and where the standard widths are 40 cm, 50 cm and 60 cm.

Height-adjustable work tables where the height of the table top can beadjusted to the height of different users have been known in specialpurpose constructions for many years e.g. for emergency dispatchcenters, which are manned around the clock. The development ofsitting/standing tables was commenced towards the end of the 1980s/thebeginning of the 1990s. This development was due to ergonomic reasons,so that the user could assume changing work positions. A number ofdifferent lifting columns designed as table legs have been developed forthese sitting/standing tables, just as different linear actuators forthese lifting columns have been developed. In some structures the linearactuator is an incorporated part of the lifting column and in otherstructures it is a separate unit which may be built into differentlifting columns. Basically, a lifting column consists of a telescopicguide and the linear actuator, which typically consists of a spindleunit driven by a low-voltage DC-motor. To begin with the lifting columnswere designed with two members, a fixed and an extendable member.However, due to increased requirements of the customers for the variableheights, lifting columns with three members were developed—one fixed andtwo extendable members. The development was, however, also marked by adesire for cheaper products in order to gain a foothold on the market.As an example of a typical lifting column for a work table and anactuator for a lifting column, reference is made to WO2004/100632 A1,Linak A/S. A typical example of a desk having a lifting column at eachside is disclosed in EP 1079511 A1, Linak A/S.

For that reason the desire for height-adjustment has become morepronounced and has spread to other fields, where it has been attemptedto use the same type of lifting columns for sitting/standing worktables. However, it has not always been possible to use these or it has,in terms of construction and design, proven to be difficult to fit thelifting columns to a given structure.

One of the fields, where it is desired to be able to perform aheight-adjustment is kitchen tables, where the table top rests on a rowof base cabinets. This is a relatively complicated task where it is notimmediately possible to use the lifting columns intended forheight-adjustable work tables. This is among other things due to thefact that a kitchen table is relatively long and heavy. It isparticularly challenging in case of cooking islands, which often aretwice as wide since they comprise two rows of cabinets placed back toback. As examples reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,575 and US2003/0227240 A1 both Maytag Corp., disclosing cooking islandsconstructed around specially constructed height-adjustable frames. Itshould also be mentioned that JP20031591221 Yamaha Living Tec. disclosesa kitchen table, where the table top can be raised from the lower frame.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a solution forheight-adjustment of kitchen tables, where the table top rests on a rowof base cabinets. It is required that the production and assembly costsare relatively inexpensive, just as the technical solution should besimple and preferably so simple that it is suitable for a do-it-yourselfproject, i.e. without actual preceding expertise in the field.

This is achieved according to the invention by constructing thearrangement for height-adjustment as a platform comprising a bottomplate on which a lifting arrangement having a supporting surface for anobject is mounted. Thus, the height-adjustment is a separate element andalready known elements such as base cabinets may be used, i.e. simply byplacing them on top of the supporting surface of the platform. Forkitchen, utility room, bath room and dressing room elements, having abasically standardized size, the size of the platforms may be adaptedaccordingly. For a kitchen table with base cabinets the required numberof platforms can then merely be placed together, where after the basecabinets are placed on top of them. The advantage is also that theexisting production machinery for manufacturing cabinet and drawerelements can remain intact, while the manufacturing of the platforms istransferred to a separate production, which may be optimized with a viewthereto.

In the dependent claims more different embodiments for theheight-adjustment arrangement have been provided. The claims 2-4disclose embodiments based on spindles, which give the advantage ofbeing reliable and long-lasting and with a solid spindle or a solidspindle combined with a hollow spindle a wide span in the adjustmentheight as well as a cost optimizing is achieved.

Claims 5-6 provide different solutions all based on the idea of using awedging for the height-adjustment. The wedge surfaces sliding againsteach other may be fashioned to have a low friction, e.g. by means of asurface treatment or surface coating, alternatively rolls may be used onthe wedge surfaces. Again, this is a simple and uncomplicatedconstruction.

Claims 6-7 provide solutions based on box-shaped profiles, which may bedesigned such that they can be located in pairs under each side of abase cabinet, alternatively at the front and rear edge. The lattersolution further has the advantage that access under the cabinet fromthe front is prevented.

Claims 8 and 10 provide solutions with levers, where the solution inclaim 8 may be moved by means of a known actuator. It is an obviousadvantage that a linear actuator is a well-proven component which issimple and dependable. The solution in claim 10 is based on spindletechnology and has the advantage that the levers may be arranged so thattransversal forces eliminate each other.

Claim 9 provides an entirely different solution based on a rope pull,where the rope may be a wire, band or the like. Again, a simple andfunctional solution, which likewise may be constructed relativelyinexpensive.

The invention further relates to a cabinet with a bottom plate, beingprepared for mounting of or which is mounted with at least onearrangement according to one of the claims 1-14. This could e.g. beholes or dogs or brackets which should cooperate with the arrangement.

Various embodiments of the invention will be explained below withreference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment with a single spindle,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the spindle in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a cross section through a corner of an embodiment withhollow and solid spindle,

FIG. 4 shows a top or bottom plate in FIG. 3 seen from above,

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of an embodiment with a linear actuatorshown without top plate,

FIG. 6 shows the embodiment in FIG. 5 seen from the side,

FIG. 7 shows a section in the bottom plate, which exposes an adjustingscrew,

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment based on box-shaped profiles and chain driveshown directly from the side and where it has been retracted to itsminimum height,

FIG. 9 shows the same as FIG. 8, but extended to its full height,

FIG. 10 shows the same as FIG. 8, but seen directly from above,

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment based on box-shaped profiles and drive witha drive shaft and angle gear shown directly from the side, and where ithas been retracted to its minimum height,

FIG. 12 shows the same as FIG. 11, but extended to its full height,

FIG. 13 shows the same as FIG. 11 but seen directly from above,

FIG. 14 shows a principle sketch of an embodiment based on wedgeelements shown in fully retracted position,

FIG. 15 shows the same as FIG. 14, but in fully extended height,

FIG. 16 shows the same as FIG. 15, but shown from the opposite end,

FIG. 17 shows an embodiment based on levers shown directly from theside,

FIG. 18 shows the same as FIG. 14, but seen directly from above,

FIG. 19 shows a schematic principle view of an embodiment based on woundbands,

FIG. 20 shows the same as FIG. 19 but where the embodiment has threetelescopic members,

FIG. 21 shows an embodiment based on a solid and a hollow spindle andalso a tube with internal thread,

FIG. 22 shows an embodiment as in FIG. 21 shown with chain drive,

FIG. 23 shows the same as FIG. 22, but seen directly from above, and

FIG. 24 shows a section of the drive motor and where the end stopswitches are shown.

FIGS. 1-2 of the drawing shows an embodiment comprising a square box(shown transparent) with a bottom plate 1, having a spindle 2 mounted ona thrust bearing 3 in each corner. The lower end of the spindle 2 isfurnished with a toothed pulley 4. All four spindles 2 are driven by acentral motor 5 through a toothed belt 6. The motor 5 and thetransmission, here a worm gear and driving wheel for the toothed belt 6,is mounted on a mutual plate, which can pivot about an axle pin, saidplate being spring loaded with a coil spring at the end such that thetoothed belt is held tight. A tube piece 7 extends over the spindles 2and to the lower end of said tube piece a spindle nut 8 in mesh with thespindle 2 is secured. As the spindles 2 rotate synchronously due to thetoothed belt drive, the four tube pieces 7 are displaced synchronouslyup and down depending on the direction of rotation of the motor. It isrealized that the toothed belt 6 and corresponding toothed pulley 4 maybe replaced by a chain and chain wheel. The spindles may naturally alsobe driven by a separate electric motor each. Along the circumference ofthe bottom plate 1 a frame 9 is secured. Under a base cabinet mounted ontop of the tube pieces 7 shut-offs may be secured to the sides of theframe 9, which are visible after the final assembly, said shut-offssliding on the outside of the base plate frame 9, such that the bottomplate is covered. The upper side of the four tube pieces 7 constitutesthe supporting surface. At the corners of the frame 9 guides for thetube pieces 7 on the spindle nuts may be arranged.

FIGS. 3-4 of the drawing show an embodiment with a larger lifting heightcomprising an identical bottom and top plate 10,11, which may beadjusted to a horizontal position by means of adjusting screws 12 in thebottom plate 10. In each corner of the bottom plate a hollow spindle 13with external thread is secured. A solid spindle 14 with external threadwhich may be accommodated in the hollow spindle 13 is secured to the topplate 11. Between these two spindles is a tubular spindle nut 15 havinga hole with internal thread for the solid spindle 14 at the top. At thebottom of the spindle nut 15 is a hole likewise with internal thread forthe hollow spindle 13. The two spindles 13,14 have opposite thread. Thespindle nut 15 at each corner of the bottom plate 10 is in a rotatablemanner embedded in an intermediate frame 16 on which a motor unit ismounted. The motor unit drives an endless chain 17 running around achain wheel 18 on each of the spindle nuts 15. When the motor rotates inone direction the spindle nut 15 will climb up the hollow spindle 13while the solid spindle 14 will be extended out of the tubular spindlenut 15. When the direction of rotation of the motor is changed thespindles 13,14 will be retracted again. It is realized that the chain 17may be replaced by a toothed belt and toothed pulley. A V-belt and discsfor V-belt are also a possibility. Further, it is possible to use aseparate motor for each spindle nut 15 or a motor for spindle nuts inpairs, e.g. a motor for driving the two spindle nuts in one side andanother motor for driving the two spindle nuts in the other side. Thetop plate 11 constitutes the supporting surface. It is realized that atelescopic extendable/retractable frame or cover plate may be arrangedbetween the bottom plate 10 and the top plate 11 at least on the sideswhich are visible after the final assembly.

Another solution is shown in FIGS. 5-7 of the drawing which comprises abottom plate 20 on which two parallel positioned shafts 23,24 aremounted at a mutual distance by means of two rails 21,22. An arm25,26,27,28 is secured to each end of these shafts 23,24. The upper endof the arms 25-28 is connected in pairs to a rod 29,30, having a lengthcorresponding to the distance between the two shafts 23,24. A rotary arm31 is fitted to one of the shafts 23. The rear end of a linear actuator32 is supported on one of the shafts 24 while the front end of itsdisplaceable piston-like inner tube 33 is connected to the arm 31 on theother shaft 23. When the inner tube 33 of the actuator is displacedoutwards, the arms 25-28 of the shafts 23,24 rotate or extend upwards.When the inner tube 33 of the actuator is retracted the arms 25-28 ofthe shafts 23,24 are lowered. The linear actuator may e.g. be of thetype disclosed in WO 02/29284 A1 Linak A/S. At each corner of the bottomplate 20 is mounted a small telescopic control unit 34 on top of whichis mounted a carrying plate 35 constituting the supporting surface. Atthe upper end of the lifting arms 25-28 is mounted a wheel in mesh withthe underside of the supporting surface 35. It is understood that thebottom plate 20 may be equipped with adjusting screws 40 for adjustingthe arrangement to a horizontal position. These adjusting screws 40 maybe integrated in the lower end of the telescopic control units 34 at thecorners. The telescopic control units 34 are here illustrated as threeinside each other telescopic tube pieces. As mentioned earlier thisembodiment may also comprise a telescopic frame or rails. It is notedthat the shafts 23,24 may be designed in a manner which allows them tobe coupled with adjacent arrangements, e.g. tubular coupling pieces inextension of the shaft 23 as shown in the drawing.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 8-10 of the drawing comprises an upperbox-shaped profile 50 which is open at the top and a lower box-shapedprofile 51 which is open at the bottom. Between these two box-shapedprofiles 50,51 is a chassis element 52 likewise designed as a box-shapedprofile. In this chassis element 52 two chain wheels 53,54 are embedded,over which an endless chain 55 runs. A right-angled, triangular plateelement 56,57 is secured to each chain distance between the two chainwheels 53,54, where an axle pin 58-61 is secured at each corner of thevertical side facing away from the chain wheels, said axle pin fittinginto two inclined tracks 62-65 in the two box-shaped profiles 50,51. Theaxle pins are guided with the ends in horizontal tracks in the chassiselement 52. The chain 55 is driven by a reversible electric motor 66which over a worm gear 67 drives one of the chain wheels 54. When thetwo triangular plate elements 56,57 are pulled away from each other, theupper box-shaped profile 50 will be raised out of the chassis element 52while this synchronously is raised out of the lower box-shaped profile51. When the two triangular plate elements 56,57 are pulled towards eachother the upper box-shaped profile 50 is lowered over the chassiselement 52 while this is lowered into the lower box-shaped profile 51.The triangular shape of the plate elements 56,57 causes the elements tobe completely pulled together, even though they are displaced in thesame plane. One of these arrangements may be arranged e.g. under acabinet but it is also possible to place an arrangement at each side. Itis noted that it is also possible to arrange a telescopic frame or coverplate as shut-off, preventing access into the hollow of the platform.This both prevents dirt from building up in the platform and alsoprevents personal injuries or squeezing e.g. as a result of a childextending a hand or foot into the platform.

A similar solution is shown in FIGS. 11-13 which also comprises twobox-shaped profiles 70,71 and a third box-shaped profile 72 is locatedin between these. These three box-shaped profiles 70-73 may in atelescopic manner be displaced in and out of each other. The drivemechanism is constituted by a spindle unit comprising a solid spindle 73in mesh with a hollow spindle 74, which again is in mesh with a tubularspindle nut 75, which on the exterior at one end has a bevel wheel 76.Such a spindle unit is located at each end of the box-shaped profiles70-72 and is connected to a through-going drive shaft 77, which at eachend is equipped with a bevel wheel 78 in mesh with the bevel wheel 76 ofthe spindle nut 75. The middle of the drive shaft 77 is furnished with aworm wheel 72 in mesh with a worm 79 on a reversible electric motor 800.When the motor shaft moves in one direction the box-shaped profiles70-72 are synchronously raised out of each other and when the directionof rotation is reversed the box-shaped profiles 70-72 are retracted intoeach other.

A somewhat similar construction is shown in FIGS. 14-16 of the drawingwhich comprises two wedge elements 80,81 located next to each other.Between these two wedge elements 80,81 is located an axiallydisplaceable wedge element 82, which with a surface rests on one on thewedge elements 80, while the other wedge element 81 rests on a surfaceof the displaceable wedge element 82 facing upwards. When the axiallydisplaceable wedge element 82 is displaced axially it is raised from thelower wedge element 80 while it simultaneously urges the upper wedgeelement 81 upwards. When the axially displaceable wedge element 82 ismoved in the other direction the upper wedge element 81 will be loweredwhile the displaceable element 82 slides down the lower wedge element80. The axially displaceable wedge element 82 may be moved by means of achain as stated above or a spindle with a rotating spindle nut may beused causing the spindle to be displaced axially. Otherwise, the sameprinciples as the above embodiment in FIGS. 8-10 apply.

Another embodiment is shown in FIGS. 17-18 which comprise similar butmirrored arrangements arranged in pairs comprising a lever 90, mountedabout a horizontal shaft 91 in a rotatable manner. At a distance alongthe lever 90 there is a spindle 92 driven by a reversible electric motor93. The spindle 92 is in mesh with a spindle nut 94 mounted on the lever90. When the motor 93 is activated the free ends of the four levers areraised due to the spindle nut climbing upwards on the spindle 92. Thespindle nut 94 is mounted on the lever 90 in a tiltable and displaceablemanner causing it to adjust itself to the angular position of the lever90. If the direction of rotation of the motor 90 is reversed, the leversare lowered. All four spindles 92 may be driven synchronous through atoothed belt or chain 95 by a centrally located motor 93. Like the otherembodiments each spindle may be driven by a separate motor or in pairs.The spindle nut 94 is mounted on the lever in a tiltable anddisplaceable manner and the spindle 92 is fixed to the bottom plate 95.On the other hand the spindle 92 may be mounted on the bottom plate 95in a tiltable manner and the spindle nut 94 fixedly mounted on the lever90. In reality, the mutual rotation of the spindle/spindle nut isrelatively small, which means that the spindle could be mounted on ayielding surface, which allows the rotation. Rolls 96 or circular archedsupports may be mounted on the free ends of the levers 90, which allow amore or less frictionless movement against the bottom of the object 97,such as a kitchen base cabinet placed on top of it.

In FIGS. 19-20 an entirely different embodiment is shown comprising twoinside each other telescopically displaceable box-shaped elements100,101. One of the box-shaped elements 100 has a bottom plate 102,while the other box-shaped element 101 does not necessarily have to befurnished with a top plate. The drive unit comprises a shaft 103 drivenby the motor. A steel band 104 is secured to each end of the shaft,which over rolls 105,106 runs over the edge of the lower box-shapedelement 100 and is secured to the underside of the subsequent box-shapedelement 101. A further development of the embodiment discloses threetelescopically displaceable box-shaped elements 100,101,107 locatedinside each other, where the upper box-shaped element 107 is secured tothe intermediate box-shaped element 101 by means of a steel band 180over a roll 109 on the intermediate box-shaped element 101. When thesteel band 104 is wound on the shaft 103 the intermediate 101 and upperbox-shaped element 107 will be telescopically displaced upwards. Whenthe direction of rotation of the motor 108 is reversed the steel band104 is slackened and the weight of and the weight on the box-shapedelements 107,101 will urge these downwards. It is noted that a steelband 109 is mounted in a corresponding manner on the motor driven shaft103 which is secured to the opposite sides of the box-shaped elements.It is further noted that these steel bands 109 are guided the oppositeway around the shaft 103 compared to the steel bands 104. As analternative to steel bands the construction may also be fitted withother types of bands e.g. plastic bands. Instead of a mutualmotor-driven shaft 103 two motor-driven shafts for operating each sideof the box-shaped elements may of course be provided. It is realizedthat the box-shaped elements does not necessarily have to be equippedwith sides all the way around, it would be sufficient with two sideslocated opposite each other. These would of course have to bestrengthened in the cross direction e.g. with supports on the bottomplate 102 and mutual guides.

For the sake of completeness, FIG. 21 shows a variation of theembodiment in FIG. 3. Unlike FIG. 3, a solid spindle 200 with right-handthread is here mounted on the bottom plate via a plate element 201. Thissolid spindle 200 is furnished with a hollow spindle 202 with internalthread. The exterior of the hollow spindle 201 is designed withleft-hand thread. On the outside of the hollow spindle 202 is a tube 203with internal thread. On top of this tube is a mounting plate 204,constituting the supporting surface for the object, such as a basecabinet, which should be carried by the tube 203. The hollow spindle 202is equipped with a toothed disc or chain wheel 205 at the bottom. Allfour spindle units are driven by an endless toothed belt or chain drivenby a reversible electric motor. When the motor runs in one direction,the hollow spindle 202 will climb up the solid spindle 200 while thetube 203 is extended out of the hollow spindle 202.

FIGS. 22-24 of the drawing show an embodiment based on a spindle unit asshown in FIG. 21. The hollow spindle 300 is here driven by an endlesschain 301 driven by a reversible low voltage motor 302, which drives achain wheel 303 through a worm gear 304. For guiding the chain 301 thisis situated in a round-going profile rail 305, functioning as chainhousing to which the motor unit 302-304 further is secured. In theoutermost position the motor 302 is stopped by end stop switches306,307, where one switch 306 hits the bottom plate 308, while the otherswitch 307 hits a dog 309 on a rod 310 protruding from the bottom plate.On top of the spindle units is mounted a top plate 311 constituting thesupporting surface for an object placed thereon.

The invention thus provides a solution, at which a table top mounted onbase cabinets in an uncomplicated manner may be adjusted in height. Thesolution may be used where a table top is mounted on a continuous row ofbase cabinets as well as an interrupted row of base cabinets, e.g. wherethe table top is mounted on a base cabinet at each end. The platformaccording to the invention may be adapted to the individual basecabinets but may also be constructed to carry two or more base cabinetslocated next to each other. It is understood that two platforms may alsobe used for one cabinet e.g. a platform in each side with a width of 20cm and depth of 45 cm may be used for a 60 cm wide cabinet. Such aplatform may immediately be used for a slim cabinet e.g. with a width of30 cm. In such a platform there is only one lifting arrangement at eachend.

It is noted that the invention is not only intended for kitchens but maybe used in other connections. An obvious example is in connection withlaboratory and clinical equipment, where the cabinet elements by andlarge correspond to the kitchen cabinet elements.

When studying the invention from an overall point of view it is realizedthat the invention may be used for much more than height-adjustment offloor-mounted cabinet and drawer elements. The platform may e.g. belocated on a table for height-adjustment of an object on the table. Thisis particularly relevant in connection with laboratory and clinicalequipment.

1. An arrangement for height-adjustment for base cabinets located on afloor and where an upper side of the cabinets includes a table top,wherein the arrangement is designed as a platform comprising a bottomplate on which is mounted a lifting arrangement with a carrying surfacefor an object positioned thereon.
 2. The arrangement according to claim1, wherein a spindle unit (2-4, 7, 8; 13-15; 73-75; 200, 202, 203)comprises at least one spindle (2; 13, 14; 73, 74,-200, 202) and aspindle nut (8; 15; 75; 203) is mounted at each corner of the bottomplate (10) and where an upper end of the spindle unit (2-4, 7, 8; 13-15;73-75; 200, 202, 203) constitutes the carrying surface and where thespindle units are driven by at least one electric motor (5; 80; 302). 3.The arrangement according to claim 1, including a spindle (2) on apressure bearing (4) mounted at each corner of the bottom plate andwhere the lower end of the spindle is equipped with a toothed disc orchain wheel (4), a motor (5) which through an endless toothed belt orchain (6) drives the spindles (2) synchronously and where a tube piece(7) extending over the spindles (2), is equipped with a spindle nut (8)at the lower end, and where the upper side of the tube pieces (7)constitutes the supporting surface.
 4. The arrangement according toclaim 1, wherein a hollow spindle (13) with external thread is securedin each corner of the bottom plate, a solid spindle (14) with externalthread is secured to a top plate (11), constituting the supportingsurface, a tubular spindle nut (15) is secured between the hollowspindle (13) and the solid spindle (14), said spindle nut having a holewith internal thread for the solid spindle (14) at the top and a holewith internal thread for the hollow spindle (13) at the bottom, thespindle nuts (15) are mounted in each corner of an intermediate frame(16), and a motor unit, which through an endless chain or toothed belt(17) running over a chain wheel or toothed pulley (18) drives eachspindle nut (15).
 5. The arrangement according to claim 1, including twowedge elements (80,81) located next to each other, an axiallydisplaceable wedge element (82) is located between these two wedgeelements, said displaceable wedge element rests on one on the wedgeelements (80) with a surface, while the other wedge element (81) restson a surface of the displaceable wedge element (82) facing upwards, andwhere the axially displaceable wedge element (82) may be moved with achain or belt drive, alternatively a spindle nut unit.
 6. Thearrangement according to claim 1, includes a box-shaped profile (51)which is open at the top and a box-shaped profile (50) which is open atthe bottom and that there between these two box-shaped profiles (50,51)is a chassis element (52), in which two chain wheels (53,54) areembedded, over which an endless chain (55) runs, that a triangular plateelement (56,57) is secured to each chain distance between the two chainwheels (53,54), where an axle pin (58-61) is secured at each cornerfacing away from the chain wheels (53,54), said axle pin fitting intotwo inclined tracks (62, 63; 64, 65) in the two box-shaped profiles(51;50), and where the chain (55) is driven by a reversible electricmotor (66) such that when the two triangular plate elements (56,57) aredisplaced away from each other, the upper box-shaped profile (50) willbe raised and when the two triangular plate elements (56,57) are pulledtowards each other the upper box-shaped profile (50) is lowered.
 7. Thearrangement according to claim 1, includes two box-shaped profiles(70,71) and that a third box-shaped profile (72) is located in betweensuch that these three box-shaped profiles (70-72) in a telescopic mannermay be displaced in and out of each other with a solid spindle (73) inmesh with a hollow spindle (74), which again is in mesh with a tubularspindle nut (75), which on the exterior has a bevel wheel (76), thatsuch a spindle unit is located at each end of the box-shaped profiles(70-72) and is connected to a drive shaft (77) driven by a motor, andthat each end of the drive shaft (77) is equipped with a bevel wheel(78) in mesh with the bevel wheel (76) of the spindle unit on thespindle nuts (75).
 8. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein twoparallel shafts (23,24) are mounted on the bottom plate (2) at a mutualdistance, and that an arm (25-28) is located at each end of theseshafts, that the upper end of the arms (25-28) in pairs are connected toa rod (29,30), corresponding to the length between the two shafts(23,24) such that a rod-shaped parallelogram emerges at each side, theupper side of which constituting the supporting surface and that alinear actuator (32) is secured with one end to the bottom plate (20)and with the other end (33) is secured to a rotary arm (31) on one ofthe shafts (23) for raising and lowering the rod-shaped parallelogram.9. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the lifting arrangementcomprises a shaft (103) driven by a motor (108) mounted on the bottomplate (102), that a rope such as a wire, belt, plastic band, steel band(104;109) is secured to each end of the shaft (103), said rope runningover rolls (105,106) and up over the upper edge of the lower box-shapedelement (100) and is secured to the underside of a subsequent box-shapedelement (101).
 10. The arrangement according to claim 1, including twosimilar but mirrored arrangements comprising a lever (90), mounted abouta horizontal shaft (91) in a rotatable manner, that a spindle (92),driven by a reversible electric motor (93), is secured at a distancealong the lever (90), that the spindle (92) is in mesh with a spindlenut (94) mounted on the lever (90), that the spindle nut (94) is mountedon the lever in a rotatable and displaceable manner, alternatively thatthe spindle (92) is embedded in a tiltable manner.
 11. The arrangementaccording to claim 1, wherein the platform is longitudinal, i.e., thelength is larger than the width, and where a lifting arrangement with aspindle unit, a lever, wedge arrangement or rope drive is located ateach end.
 12. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the platformhas a length of approximately 45 cm and a width of approximately 20 cm.13. The arrangement according to claim 1, including on at least thevisible sides of the platform in its mounted position a telescopiccover.
 14. The arrangement according to claim 13, wherein one part ofthe telescopic cover is secured to the bottom plate while another partis secured at the carrying surface such that the cover is extended andretracted concurrently with the movements of the platform.
 15. A cabinetwith a bottom plate prepared for mounting of or which is mounted with atleast one arrangement according to claim 1.